Hydrogen therapy for newborns with brain injury
Official title: Hydrogen in neonatal encephalopathy (HIE) Trial
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11341428 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NICU trial will test inhaled hydrogen added to standard hypothermia therapy to see if it can improve survival and brain outcomes for babies with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,424,232 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD121633-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11341428 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Term neonates with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated in the NICU alongside standard hypothermia therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Premature infants, or those not eligible for hypothermia treatment, may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project tests whether giving a small amount of inhaled hydrogen together with standard cooling therapy in term newborns with moderate to severe brain injury from HIE can be safe and feasible in the NICU. Researchers will use MRI to measure acute brain injury and will follow infants to age two to explore neurodevelopmental outcomes. The study builds on promising preclinical and early clinical data and will be conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital. If successful, it could offer a new adjunct treatment to reduce death and disability in affected infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If hydrogen is safe and beneficial, it could become an additional therapy alongside cooling to improve brain recovery and long-term development in newborns with HIE.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work and early human data hint at safety and potential benefit, but large randomized neonatal trials are still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kalish, Brian — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kalish, Brian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
MRI markers to predict outcomes after newborn brain injury
This project uses newborn brain MRI scans and AI tools to help doctors predict which babies with oxygen-related brain injury may have developmental problems by 18–22 months.
-
Real-time brain blood-flow and oxygen monitoring for newborns with birth-related brain injury
This project uses a bedside monitoring system that tracks brain blood flow and oxygen in newborns with suspected oxygen-related injury to help doctors spot damage early.
-
Using MRI to identify brain injury in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
This study is looking for better ways to check for brain injuries in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) so that doctors can spot problems earlier and find the best treatments for these babies.
-
Effects of blood sugar levels on brain health in newborns with brain injury
This study looks at how high blood sugar levels can impact the brains of newborns with a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and it aims to help parents understand how these early sugar levels might affect their child's development as they grow.
-
Newborn Brain Wave Checker: See if CergenX Wave matches the Sarnat exam
This study tests whether the CergenX Wave software, which analyzes a newborn's EEG via a small four-electrode setup, can match the standard Sarnat examination in babies with suspected neonatal encephalopathy.
-
Neonatal Neurological Observation With Video AI
This study tests a real-time, non-contact video AI system to help monitor brain health in newborns with suspected brain injury during their hospital stay.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.